Volkswagen T-ROC Concept

Volkswagen has shown a variety of compact SUV studies in recent years, including several iterations of its CrossBlue and a pair of Taigun preview cars. Wolfsburg's designers are showing no signs of fatigue, though, as the Volkswagen T-ROC Concept has been unveiled in Geneva.

Weighing in at just over 3100 lbs, the T-ROC's three-door body rolls on VW's modular MBQ platform, yet it measures some 10 inches shorter than the current Tiguan. Power comes from a Golf GTD 2.0-liter turbodiesel, rated at 181 hp and 280 lb-ft of torque, coupled to a seven-speed DSG gearbox. In tandem with its Haldex 4MOTION all-wheel-drive system (pinched from the new Golf R), this crossover concept will get to 62 mph in 6.9 seconds en route to a 130-mph top speed.

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"Chris Cantle"

Volkswagen is keen on pushing the T-ROC's persona as a high-tech-yet-rugged all-terrain rig. It's got digitized instrumentation as well as a dedicated 'Offroad' setting, which splits power 50:50 between the axles and engages a hill-descent feature. Those beady, Nissan Juke-esque headlights? They're supposed to hark back to the Karmann Ghia Type 34, updated with adaptive LEDs and integrated cameras that swivel according to the car's steering angle, transmitting the picture to a removable tablet in the center console.

Of course, the T-ROC's wildest feature is its removable roof halves. We'd probably be more hyped about this if Volkswagen hadn't already rolled out this same element on its offbeat Concept T at Detroit … in 2004.

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No matter, really, as the T-ROC's focus probably isn't production, but rather helping Volkswagen hone its compact sport-utility styling.

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